Emphasis: Thesis Track in Microbiology "I'm currently observing changes in the expression levels of defensive genes of the Corn Earworm (Helicoverpa zea) and Corn (Zea Mays) tissues through the use of rt-qPCR and eventually Microarray analyses."

Andrew Englund (Advisor Dr. Richard Musser)

"I am examining the Interactome of the corn earworm Helicoverpa zea and corn Zea mays. This is primarily a genomic analysis of the effects that the pest has on the plant as well as the effects of the plant on the pest."

Kimberly Gillespie (Advisor Dr. Shawn Meagher)

"My research is focusing on parasites (flukes) that infect bluegill found in Spring Lake in Macomb. The focus of the project is to compare parasite loads in fish captured in the fall versus fish in the spring. I will be looking at two consecutive years (fall of 2010 and spring of 2011, and then fall of 2011 and spring of 2012), with the hypothesis that higher parasite loads will be found in the fall fish because parasitized fish will not be healthy enough to overwinter successfully and will die, resulting in smaller parasite loads in the spring fish."

Emphasis: Animal behavior The role of cognition in brood parasite-host relationships.

Md Imtiaz Khalil (Advisor: Dr. Richard O. Musser)

Emphasis: Thesis track in MicrobiologyResearch Interest: My research is focused on the effect of belowground microbial fungi on the gene expression in some solanaceous plants when it faces caterpillar herbivory. Caterpillar feeding stimulates some defense and stress related gene expression in plants which can be further modulated by the beneficial fungi called "Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF). AMF penetrates the cortical cells of the root system of the plants and provides acquired systemic resistance to the plants. We will try to see whether this fungi is modulating plants gene expression in response to caterpillar feeding. We chose several vital crops such as tomato, tobacco, groundcherry under solanaceous family to study their gene expression. Our laboratory assays consisted of RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis and qPCR analysis. The findings of this experiment may lead to a novel method to reduce the use of chemical insecticides and re-establish AMF as biofertilizers to promote eco-friendly agricultural system.

Shavaun Kidd (Advisor Dr. Jeanette Thomas)

"I am in the process of wrapping up an anthrozoological research study focused on identifying specific reasons that motivate potential pet owners to choose shelters rather than breeders or pet stores for the source of their animal companions."

Katie Lamagdeleine (Advisor Dr. Ken McCravy)

"I am studying how conservation management techniques affect the species composition of ground beetles across a chronosequence of restored prairie at Nachusa Grasslands. I hope to eventually see how the re-introduction of bison in this area affects the ground beetle community."

Michael Mandru (Advisor Dr. Brian Peer)

"My thesis research looks at coevolution between the Brown-headed Cowbird, an avian brood parasite in North America, and its grassland hosts. I am investigating any mimicry seen of host eggs and nests by Brown-headed Cowbird eggs. This study focuses on possible parallels seen in ultraviolet (UV) light reflectance."

Sami McCarrel (Advisor Dr. Shawn Meagher)

"My research concerns the life cycle of “White Grub”, a parasitic fluke found in Spring Lake. This worm requires several hosts to complete its life cycle, and I am interested in infection patterns in snails and how that is related to infection in fish hosts."

Cedric Ndinga Muniania (Advisor: Dr. Andrea Porras-Alfaro)

Emphasis: Mycology Distribution of Fungi in Arid Ecosystems and their potential role on plant growth.

Emphasis: Microbiology Identification of Bifidobacterium genes involved in the metabolism of oligosaccharides.

Eric Smith (Advisor: Dr. Chris Jacques)

Emphasis: Wildlife BiologyI am developing a plasma-lipid metabolite index that can be used to assess relative habitat quality for canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) at important stopover sites during spring migration. I am also coordinating the long-term lesser scaup (A. affinis) banding program funded by the Mississippi Flyway Council which aims to band large numbers of scaup as they migrate through the region during spring migration.

Tim Swearingen (Advisor: Dr. Chris Jacques)

Emphasis: Wildlife/Population biologyBobcat Ecology: Estimating the density of Bobcats in an agriculturally dominated landscape in west central Illinois through capture-mark-recapture data from camera traps.

Terry Torres Cruz (Advisor: Dr. Andrea Porras-Alfaro)

Emphasis: MycologyDescription of a new fungal species that is a novel early lineage in the Mucoromycotina.

"I am researching the symbiotic relationship between the fungal endophyte, Phialocephala fortinii and corn. Specifically, I am interested in the transcriptome analysis of the corn to find out what genes are being stimulated and repressed in response to exposure to the fungus."

Emphasis: Field Ecology & Microbiology "My project focuses on the effects of Prescribed Forest Burnings in an Oak Woodland using Ticks as a representative species. I study the effects of 3 different burn regimes focused on plant species presence and distribution as well as the effect on tick species presence. Furthering my study I have a microbiology component focusing on the ticks individually as vectors for disease to determine the prevalence of disease in Hancock County."